FILM 392 - Research Seminar in Film History and Theory

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)

This course is designed as an in-depth exploration of either a given author or a theoretical topic. Students contribute to the class through research projects and oral presentations. Their work culminates in lengthy research papers. Because topics change, students are permitted (encouraged) to take this course more than once. Preference is given to film majors who must take this class during their senior year; junior majors and others admitted if space permits.

Topic for 2013/14a: Artist, Auteur: Spike Lee. The son of a musician and a teacher, Shelton Jackson Lee was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Nicknamed “Spike”, he grew up in a household that valued education as well as the arts. With the release of his first feature film, Lee initiated another cinematic revolution. He demonstrated to Hollywood studios that serious contemporary African-American films were not only commercially viable, they were also profitable. His success has created opportunity for other writers, directors, actors and technicians. Over the last twenty years Spike Lee has directed an array of challenging, innovative and provocative features, documentaries and commercials. The themes embedded in his work are often culled from news headlines, making him one of the most politically engaged filmmakers of his generation. This course is a senior seminar in which the films of Lee are rigorously examined.

Topic for 2013/14b: 9/11 in Film and Popular Culture. This class examines the representations of 9/11 in film and popular culture and the impact of these representations on a variety of social formations. Using various lenses such as political economy, cultural studies, and postcolonial studies we analyze American and global society in the post 9/11 “age of terror”. We pose such questions as how are race, gender, religion and social class brought to bear in 9/11 representations. How are national and personal identities put into play in 9/11 cultural production? What kinds of political, ethnic and ideological groups are involved in representing 9/11? What is the role of trauma in contemporary popular culture? How has the representation of 9/11 contributed to a surveillance society? How has 9/11 affected us as individuals? Topic for 2013/14a: Ms. Mask. Topic for 2013/14b: Mr. Elseewi.

Prerequisite(s): FILM 210 /FILM 211 , two additional units in film history and theory, and permission of instructor.

One 3-hour period, plus film screenings.